antepenult

[an-tee-pee-nuhlt, -pi-nuhlt]

noun

the third syllable from the end in a word, as te in antepenult.

Nearby words

Origin of antepenult

1575–85; < Latin (syllaba) antepaenultima the second (syllable) from the last, feminine of antepaenultimus standing before the penult. See ante-, penult

Related formspre·an·te·pe·nult, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for antepenult

For purposes of assonance little use is made of words accented on a syllable preceding the antepenult.
Legends, Tales and Poems|Gustavo Adolfo Becquer
The accent must fall on the penult, if it was long, otherwise on the antepenult of the word.
The Common People of Ancient Rome|Frank Frost Abbott
If the penult is short, the antepenult is accented provided it be long: Sansthā́naka.
The Little Clay Cart|(Attributed To) King Shudraka
Words llanas may assonate with words accented on the antepenult (esdrjulas).
Legends, Tales and Poems|Gustavo Adolfo Becquer

Words ending in ous have the accents on the antepenult, as uxrious, volptuous.
A Grammar of the English Tongue|Samuel Johnson

British Dictionary definitions for antepenult

antepenult

noun

the third last syllable in a word

Word Origin for antepenult

C16: shortened from Latin (syllaba) antepaenultima; see ante-, penult

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for antepenult

antepenult

1610s; see antepenultimate.